Serial igniter for gas-engines.



H. A. LONG. SERIAL IGNITER FOB GAS ENGINES.

A-EPLIOATIOR FILED NOV. 3, 1908.

Patented Apr. 13, 1909.

l I I I I I \r m il u n EM mu HUBERT A. LONG, OF EUREKA, CALIFORNIA.

SERIAL IGNITER FOR GAS-ENGINES.

Application filed November 3, 1908.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 13, 1909.

Serial No. 460,822.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HUBERT A. Lone, a citizen of the United States, residing at Eureka, in the county of Humboldt and State of California, have invented a new and useful Serial Igniter for Gas-Engines, of which the following is a specification.

This inventionrelates to igniters of the make and break type, and has for its principal object to provide a two pole igniter in which the movable member is in the form of a single electrode, while the relatively stationary member is provided with a plurality of contacts arranged to be consecutively engaged by the movable electrode.

A further object of the invention is to provide an igniter having but two parts, one in the form of a revolving electrode and the other constituting a stationary ring that has as many contact points as may be desired, the number of contacts being increased in proportion to reduction in speed of the movable electrode.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of this class in which comparatively long sliding contact between the fixed and movable electrodes may be maintained and to employ a single spring which operates not only to maintain the contacts in frictional engagement, but, also, serves to throw the movable electrode away from the fixed electrode and effect the desirable quick breaking of the circuit.

With these and other objects in view, as will more fully hereinafter appear, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts,hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportions, size and minor details of the structure may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings :Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of an igniter constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a face view of the same, showing the movable electrode engaging one of the fixed contacts. Fig. 3 is a view corresponding to Fig. 2 showing the positions assumed by the parts as the movable electrode continues its rotation, and the sliding frictional engagement between the two electrodes. Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the positions assumed by the parts immediatelyafter the breaking of the circuit. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the movable electrode, detached. Fig. 6 is a similar view of the electrode carrying shaft. Fig. 7 is a plan view of a portion of a modified form of plug.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

The igniter plug 10 may be of any ordinary contour and provided with means whereby it may be detachably connected at the eX- plosion chamber of the engine, or at such other point as desired, and extending from the upper face of the body portion of the plug is a hub member 11, the hub and the plug proper being provided with a bearing opening for the reception of a shaft 12 that is connected to any suitable part of the engine, and revolved at a speed proportioned to that of the engine. At the inner end of this hollow shaft is an annular flange 13 which serves to prevent outward displacement of the shaft, the flange being arranged to bear against the inner face of the hub. Each shaft is provided with a bore 15 that is disposed eccentrically to the axis of the shaft and is arranged to receive the spindle 16 of the revoluble electrode. At the inner end of the spindle 16 is secured a head 17, which, in some instances, may be integral with the spindle, and this head, which is cylindrical in form, bears against the end of the shaft 12, and is thus held from outwarddisplacement. The head 17 is provided with a diametrically disposed slot to which is secured a contact 18 that projects radially from the head and is adapted to consecutively engage the stationary contacts of the positive electrode, as hereinafter described.

In the outer portion of the hollow shaft 12 is arranged a slot 20 that extends approximately through an arc of 120, the slot communicating with the bore 15 of the shaft, and through this slot extends a pin 21 that is carried by the spindle 16. The pin by engagement with the end walls of the slot will limit the independent movements of the spindle and shaft, and at the same time this pin serves by engagement with the outer end of the hub 1 1 to prevent inward displacement of both the spindle and the shaft.

Coiled around the outer portion of the shaft is a torsion spring 23, one end of which extends into an opening 24 that is formed in the shaft, while the opposite end of said spring engages with the pin 21, the function of the spring being to yield slightly as the shaft carries the movable electrode into engagement with one of the fixed contacts, and maintain the two contacts in frictional engagement with each other for a considerable period of time and then the spring being placed under stress will operate to rapidly move the electrode 18 away from the fixed contact for the purpose of breaking the circuit.

The positive electrode is in the form of a metallic ring 26, from which project a number of stationary contacts 27, all of which are disposed in the path of rotative movement of the contact 18 and are consecutively engaged by said contact. The ring 18 is held in proper position by insulated bolts 27 and spacing sleeves 28, the outer ends of the bolts projecting through the plug for convenience in attaching the current conducting wire thereto.

The operation of the device will be apparent on reference to Figs. 2, 3 and 4. As the sleeve 12 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow, the contact 18 will be brought into engagement with one of the contacts 27. The rotative movement of the shaft 12 is continuous, but the contact 18 will be temporarily stopped as it engages with the stationary contact, and this will cause the spindle 16 to rotate in a direction opposite to that in which the shaft is rotating, so that the spring 23 will be placed under stress. As the movement of the parts continue, however, the contact 18 will be wiped across the stationary contact owing to the eccentric mounting of the spindle 16 in the shaft, as will be observed on reference to Fig. 3, where the parts are shown in the positions assumed immediately before the contacts separate. Slight further movement will now carry the movable electrode to such a point that it is free to disengage from the separate contact and thereupon the spring being placed under stress by the retardation of the movement of the contact 18 will expand and will rapidly turn the spindle 16 on its axis, thus rapidly separating the two contacts and abruptly breaking the circuit, the contact 18 moving approximately to the position shown in Fig. 4 and being then in readiness to engage the next stationary contact as the rotative movement of the shaft continues.

By increasing the number of stationary contacts the speed at which the shaft 12 rotates may be materially reduced.

Instead of screwing the plug into the cylinder, the same can be provided with slots 10", for the reception of fastening bolts. It thus becomes possible to shift the plug for the purpose of advancing or retarding the spark, and of taking up wear. This can be done without disengaging the plug from the driving gear.

What is claimed is 1. In an igniter, a stationary electrode having a plurality of contacts and a revoluble electrode having a single contact arranged to consecutively engage the stationary contacts.

2. In an igniter, a revoluble electrode having a single contact, a stationary electrode having a plurality of contacts, and means for carrying the revoluble electrode yieldably against each of the stationary contacts in consecutive order.

3. In an igniter, a stationary electrode having a plurality of contacts, a revoluble shaft disposed concentric with the series of stationary contacts, a spindle eccentrically mounted on the shaft and forming the movable electrode, a single contact carried by the spindle, and a yieldable connection between the shaft and spindle.

1 4. In an igniter, a stationary electrode having a plurality of contacts, a revoluble shaft arranged concentric with said contacts,

a spindle eccentrically mounted in the shaft and carrying a movable contact, and a spring connecting said spindle to said shaft. 5. In an igniter, a stationary electrode having an annular series of contacts, a revoluble shaft disposed concentric with said contacts and provided with an eccentric bore, a spindle revolubly mounted in the bore and provided at one end with a contact arranged to consecutively engage the stationary contact, said shaft being provided with an arcuate slot, a pin carried by the spindle and extending through said slot, and a spring connecting the pin to the shaft.

6. In an igniter, a stationary contact, a

revoluble shaft having an eccentric bore, a spindle mounted in said bore, a contact carried by said spindle and arranged to frictionally engage the stationary contact, and a spring connecting the spindle and shaft, said spring being placed under stress as the revoluble movement of the spindle is retarded by engagement of the contacts and serving to abruptly revolve said spindle as the contacts are freed from each other.

7. In an igniter, a plug having a centrally disposed bore, a ring carried by the plug and insulated therefrom, said ring being provided with a plurality of inwardly extending contacts, a shaft extending through the opening in the plug and provided with a flanged head bearing against the inner face of the plug, said shaft having an eccentric bore, a spindle extending through the bore and provided at its inner end with an enlarged head bearing against the end of the shaft, a contact carried by said head and arranged to engage the stationary contacts,

the outer portion of the shaft being provided In testimony that I claim the foregoing as With an arcuate groove, a pin extending from my own, I have hereto affixed my signature the spindle and passing through said groove, in the presence of two Witnesses.

said pin serving to prevent inward move- HUBERT A. LONG. ment of both the shaft and spindle, and a l/Vitnesses: spring encircling the shaft and having one JOHN H. MERCER,

end connected to said pin. JEFFERSON R. LANE. 

